Dual functional property of lycopene as a reducing agent to synthesis TiO2 nanoparticles and as a ligand to form lycopene-TiO2 nanoparticles complex

Lycopene, a natural pigment present in the tomato fruit was extracted and their properties as a reducing agent for the formation of TiO2 nanoparticles and as a ligand to form lycopene-TiO2 nanoparticles complexes have been investigated. Titanium tetrabutoxide was used to prepare crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles by using lycopene and tomato extract as a reducing agent. From the SEM micrographs and XRD graphs, it was found that the prepared TiO2 nanoparticles from lycopene as a reducing agent have better properties than the TiO2 nanoparticles prepared using tomato extract as reducing agent. And also lycopene acts as a ligand to attach with TiO2 nanoparticles to form lycopene-TiO2 nanoparticles complex, which was confirmed from the FTIR studies.